A Teesside council's opposition to a planned massive Asda store has led to a clash between some of its leading councillors.

Redcar and Cleveland Council has agreed to oppose the Asda development planned for Middlesbrough's Middlehaven site.

Around #70,000 will be spent by the authority fighting the plan at a public inquiry due this autumn.

Steve Kay, of the East Cleveland Independents, labelled the fight a folly.

But Labour councillor Sam Tombe said South Bank would become a ghost town if Asda closed its store in there to open its new store.

Cllr Kay told a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Council: "What people are objecting to is that we are willing to spend #70,000 on fighting this.

"People in East Cleveland are not bothered whether Asda is at South Bank or Middlehaven. It is folly to pursue this fight."

Liberal Democrat Group leader Chris Abbott said a Morrisons supermarket was being included in the Wilton Street development in Redcar even although it was just 150 yards away from a Safeway supermarket. But Labour councillors defended the decision to fight Asda's Middlehaven site plans.

Councillor John Simms said one-third of the borough's population lived in the Greater Eston area. It was right for the council to fight to maintain modern shopping facilities.

Councillor Sam Tombe said in 1982 the council had benefited by #1m when the Asda development had gone ahead on the South Bank site.

"South Bank will be a ghost town if Asda goes from South Bank," he said.

Councillor Keith Pudney said another main plank of concern about Asda's Middlehaven plan was its effect on traffic on the A66.

Council leader Dave Walsh said: "I think the application will be rejected and if that is the case we will sit down with Middlesbrough and look at what alternative uses there could be for the site."